Input device and electronic device

Abstract

An input device includes a storage section, a display section, a touch sensor, a control section, and a display switch section. The control section switches the display state of a to-be-deleted symbol string on the display section to any one of a second half hiding state, a first half hiding state, and a full display state every time the display switch section is pressed during touch operation on the display section by a user. The second half hiding state is to hide a second half symbol string, out of the to-be-deleted symbol string, displayed behind a deletion reference position. The first half hiding state is to hide a first half symbol string, out of the to-be-deleted symbol string, displayed before the deletion reference position. The full display state is to display the to-be-deleted symbol string in full.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An input device comprising:
 memory configured to store a symbol string including a plurality of symbols; 
 a display configured to display the symbol string stored in the memory; 
 a touch sensor configured to detect a touch position on the display; 
 a controller; and 
 a software key or a hardware key, 
 wherein the controller specifies a to-be-deleted symbol string and a deletion reference position based on the touch position detected by the touch sensor, 
 the controller repeatedly switches the display state of the to-be-deleted symbol string on the display among a second half hiding state, a first half hiding state, and a full display state in the stated order or among the first half hiding state, the second half hiding state, and the full display state in the stated order every time the software key or the hardware key is pressed while the touch position detected by the touch sensor remains unchanged and the deletion reference position specified by the controller remains unchanged, 
 the second half hiding state is to hide a second half symbol string, out of the to-be-deleted symbol string, displayed behind the deletion reference position, 
 the first half hiding state is to hide a first half symbol string, out of the to-be-deleted symbol string, displayed before the deletion reference position, and 
 the full display state is to display the to-be-deleted symbol string in full. 
 
     
     
       2. An input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller keeps on displaying the symbol string displayed lastly on the display when the touch sensor detects disappearance of the touch position. 
 
     
     
       3. An input device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a software keyboard configured to enable a user to enter a symbol string, 
 wherein the display displays the symbol string entered through the software keyboard. 
 
     
     
       4. An input device according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the controller specifies a sentence, a paragraph, or a full symbol string as a unit of the to-be-deleted symbol string. 
 
     
     
       5. An electronic device comprising an input device according to  claim 1 .